Gain A Competitive Edge While On Vacation

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Some people live to work, most work to live. Regardless, everyone enjoys a nice vacation from time to time. We all like to get away from the routine and venture off somewhere new; however, many of us dislike the baggage associated with traveling, be it going through security, lineups at the airport or overcoming jet lag.

Although travel is welcome, we often find ourselves in need of a vacation upon our return, in order to get back into the swing of things. What this article will not do is list a number of things to do to come back fresh and rested. What it will do is offer some insight as to how you can at least come back stronger psychologically, in order to boost your performance at work.

what's the point?

Like anything else in life, the first thing you need to know is the purpose of your sojourn. What are you trying to get out of it? Are you traveling for business? For pleasure? The ideal is both, because only once you find work that complements your interests will you be fully satisfied in life. Either way, independent of why you are traveling, you should always ask yourself what you wish to get out of the trip.

check your baggage

Baggage here implies the emotional kind. If you have financial issues or are having problems with a loved one, you can and should use the getaway to clear your head and try to form a plan of action, but you should not dwell on the circumstances from the moment you get on the road.

open your blinds

It is essential that you venture out with an open mind. Who you meet and what you do should be different from your routine at home; if they are not, you are wasting your time and money. If you are on business, strike a different chord at meetings. In other words, if you are outgoing and talkative, be somewhat more reserved to see how people react to you.

If you tend to be shy, use the new setting to be more extroverted. That being said, don't forget what got you there in the first place.

If you are away on pleasure, then be careful in every way that counts but enjoy yourself; have a couple of drinks, let loose and strike up a conversation with anybody and everybody. You likely have "tourist" tattooed on your forehead anyway, so don't be shy.